Handing over the cheques to the pastor-in-charge of Province 4 of the RCCG, Salihu said, “He (suspect) forged the letterheads of the church’s region 5 and the signature of the pastor in charge of the region. He also forged the signature of the church’s accountant to execute his criminal schemes in the RCCG.”

The stolen funds were paid back by the bank, which had sacked the suspect.

Speaking after receiving the cheques from the anti-graft agency, the Pastor of Province 4 of the RCCG, Port Harcourt, Ark Barango, commended the EFCC for ensuring that the money was recovered.

Expressing surprise that Idakwoji, who was a deacon in the RCCG, could be involved in fraud, Barango said, “He (suspect) was the account officer assigned by the bank to us. He was also a member of the church. EFCC is an agent of transformation. I thank the EFCC for helping us to recover the money.”